Russian scientists devised a new way of finding life on Mars

Russian scientists have developed a new way to find life on Mars and other celestial bodies in the Solar System.

The scientific work proving this method has been published in the latest issue of the journal "Space research". The method was developed with the participation of officials of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, named DV Skobeltsyn of MGU, Department of Physics and Biology MGU, Institute of Physical and Chemical Biology Research named AN Belozersky MGU. The work follows a plan to develop scientific equipment for Russia's Boomerang spacecraft, designed to explore Mars and bring rock samples collected on Mars from the Phobos satellite to Earth.

Accordingly, scientists use lasers from spacecraft or red stations to scan the celestial surface.

The building is based on the fact that landing stations and spacecraft cannot cover research work to track life on large areas, while helicopters, balloons and balloons are ancillary. depending heavily on the atmospheric and wind density of the planets studied.

To solve this problem, it is better to place laser scanners on a spacecraft to discover research objects on the spacecraft's flight path or from its orbit. The method developed by Russian scientists is also suitable in the search for life after the spacecraft landed on the planet.

Starting from the basis that life on Earth comes from microorganisms, and some of those microorganisms can withstand extreme conditions comparable to those in the universe, the scientists conclude. that when searching for traces of life in the Solar System, first focus on finding the simplest microorganisms.

"Based on the method proposed by our Institute's biologists, we came up with the measurement method and equipment to determine the viability of extraterrestrial microorganisms. This method is based on Principle of fluorescence emission of microscopic biological entities when irradiated by laser beam.According to the characteristics of the resulting fluorescence radiation, we can assess whether biological entities whether there is life or not, " said Mikhail Panasyuk, director of the Institute of Nuclear Science Research, DV Skobeltsyn of MGU, Vice Chairman of the International Commission on Russian Space Research. 

With the help of such a device, objects can be tested at distances of tens and hundreds of kilometers, but this method only allows the detection of life traces on the surface, not under celestial surface , Mr. Panasyuk explained.